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CBS Reporter's Computer Breached by 'Unknown Party'

CBS News investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson's computer was accessed by an "unauthorized, external, unknown party" last year, the company concluded after an investigation.

CBS News issued the following statement, which Attkisson tweeted in several parts on Friday morning:

“A cyber security firm hired by CBS News has determined through forensic analysis that Sharyl Attkisson’s computer was accessed by an unauthorized, external, unknown party on multiple occasions late in 2012. Evidence suggests this party performed all access remotely using Attkisson’s accounts. While no malicious code was found, forensic analysis revealed an intruder had executed commands that appeared to involve search and exfiltration of data.

This party also used sophisticated methods to remove all possible indications of unauthorized activity and alter system times to cause further confusion.

CBS News is taking steps to identify the responsible party and their method of access.”

Nobody is explicitly pointing any fingers at potential culprits quite yet. However, Attkisson hinted in a radio interview last month that she might be the target of government surveillance — similar to that conducted against Fox News Channel's James Rosen — for reporting on the attacks on the American diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, in September.

When asked whether the government was monitoring her phone calls or emails, Attkisson replied as follows, as quoted by The Washington Post:

"Well, I’m not ready to fully speak publicly about some things that have affected me because I’m trying to be methodical and careful about what I say, but there has been an issue in my house and there’s been an issue with my computers that’s gone on for quite a long time that we’re looking into."

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